Father and son. Mayor Alvarez Isnaji (right) of Indanan, Sulu and his son Jun who negotiated for the release of ABS-CBN broadcast journalist and three other companions are indicted for kidnap.Mayor Alvarez Isnaji of Indanan, Sulu and his son Jun are in hot water after witnesses of police authorities implicated the two for alleged involvement in the abduction of ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Ces Drilon, her cameramen, and a university professor.
Kidnappers chose Mayor Isnaji as the "negotiator" for the release of Ces Drilon, her crew Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama including Prof. Octavio Dinampo of Mindanao State University, while the young Isnaji acted as one of the emissaries.
ABS-CBN reported yesterday quoting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon as saying, "Based on the revelations given by witnesses, we have seen that Mayor Alvarez Isnaji is a principal suspect in this kidnapping case of Ces Drilon."
The report also said kidnap for ransom charges will be filed against the town mayor and his son who negotiated for the release of a television news team over circumstantial evidence that the two had connived with the Abu Sayyaf group.
The witnesses include government officials and policemen who know certain facts relating to the kidnapping case" and were present during the incident, Razon said but declined to elaborate, it said.
After Drilon's group was released and their statements were taken, Razon said, "The fact that Mayor Alvarez Isnaji was involved in the kidnapping unraveled." Razon also said there were "inconsistencies" in Isnaji's statement.
Ces Drilon, her two cameramen and the professor were abducted last June 8. Valderama was released June 12 after payment of P100,000 board and lodging fee. Ces Drilon, Encarnacion and Dinampo were released late Tuesday night. Both authorities and ABS-CBN denied P15 million ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
The Isnajis were brought to the CIDG Wednesday and underwent "tactical interrogation." They are still under the custody of the CIDG.
Razon also noted that the town mayor was appointed by the kidnappers as their negotiator with government, even as the local officials tapped Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidula to hold negotiations.
"Mayor Isnaji was not among the government negotiators. He was negotiating for the kidnap for ransom group. The mayor's son was a conduit and was also talking [with the kidnappers] and doing the things that his father was doing.
As this developed, Mayor Isnaji insisted that he and his son were not involved in the abduction of the ABS-CBN News crew and their guide in Indanan, Sulu province.
He denied that the ransom money that was supposedly paid for the victims' release went to his pockets and his campaign kitty for the August elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Mayor Isnaji is one of the seven contenders for gubernatorial race while his son Jun is running for assemblyman (representing Sulu district) in the August 11 ARMM polls.
He added that he and his son should be rewarded for negotiating for the release of the television crew. "I was surprised. I thought I should be given reward or what."
The young Isnaji, meanwhile, suspects that he and his father are caught between a raging political war. "Ces must know better. Maybe we are just caught in the middle between political in the country," he said.
He appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to file charges against his father. "I'm appealing to the government to reconsider everything, because my father has been advocating peace in Mindanao."
Isnaji's fellow leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) questioned his arrest, saying that he played a major role and was successful as the emissary in the negotiations for the release of Ces Drilon and three others.
"Yet, the same local chief executive is now being charged for kidnapping," Abdul Sahrin, MNLF secretary-general. "We're expecting congratulatory messages from President Arroyo herself and other top Malacañang officials for the efforts of the mayor."
But Sahrin and other MNLF members who gathered at a local hotel here yesterday were obviously not happy seeing Isnaji and his son on television, being escorted by police in Manila where they were subjected to tactical interrogation.
"Isnaji is a well-respected mayor in Sulu and he's the common candidate of MNLF for governor in the upcoming ARMM elections. We could only suspect that there might be some sectors that are behind the character assassination against him," the MNLF secretary general said.
Kidnappers chose Mayor Isnaji as the "negotiator" for the release of Ces Drilon, her crew Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama including Prof. Octavio Dinampo of Mindanao State University, while the young Isnaji acted as one of the emissaries.
ABS-CBN reported yesterday quoting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Razon as saying, "Based on the revelations given by witnesses, we have seen that Mayor Alvarez Isnaji is a principal suspect in this kidnapping case of Ces Drilon."
The report also said kidnap for ransom charges will be filed against the town mayor and his son who negotiated for the release of a television news team over circumstantial evidence that the two had connived with the Abu Sayyaf group.
The witnesses include government officials and policemen who know certain facts relating to the kidnapping case" and were present during the incident, Razon said but declined to elaborate, it said.
After Drilon's group was released and their statements were taken, Razon said, "The fact that Mayor Alvarez Isnaji was involved in the kidnapping unraveled." Razon also said there were "inconsistencies" in Isnaji's statement.
Ces Drilon, her two cameramen and the professor were abducted last June 8. Valderama was released June 12 after payment of P100,000 board and lodging fee. Ces Drilon, Encarnacion and Dinampo were released late Tuesday night. Both authorities and ABS-CBN denied P15 million ransom was paid to the kidnappers.
The Isnajis were brought to the CIDG Wednesday and underwent "tactical interrogation." They are still under the custody of the CIDG.
Razon also noted that the town mayor was appointed by the kidnappers as their negotiator with government, even as the local officials tapped Sulu Vice Governor Lady Ann Sahidula to hold negotiations.
"Mayor Isnaji was not among the government negotiators. He was negotiating for the kidnap for ransom group. The mayor's son was a conduit and was also talking [with the kidnappers] and doing the things that his father was doing.
As this developed, Mayor Isnaji insisted that he and his son were not involved in the abduction of the ABS-CBN News crew and their guide in Indanan, Sulu province.
He denied that the ransom money that was supposedly paid for the victims' release went to his pockets and his campaign kitty for the August elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Mayor Isnaji is one of the seven contenders for gubernatorial race while his son Jun is running for assemblyman (representing Sulu district) in the August 11 ARMM polls.
He added that he and his son should be rewarded for negotiating for the release of the television crew. "I was surprised. I thought I should be given reward or what."
The young Isnaji, meanwhile, suspects that he and his father are caught between a raging political war. "Ces must know better. Maybe we are just caught in the middle between political in the country," he said.
He appealed to the government to reconsider its decision to file charges against his father. "I'm appealing to the government to reconsider everything, because my father has been advocating peace in Mindanao."
Isnaji's fellow leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) questioned his arrest, saying that he played a major role and was successful as the emissary in the negotiations for the release of Ces Drilon and three others.
"Yet, the same local chief executive is now being charged for kidnapping," Abdul Sahrin, MNLF secretary-general. "We're expecting congratulatory messages from President Arroyo herself and other top Malacañang officials for the efforts of the mayor."
But Sahrin and other MNLF members who gathered at a local hotel here yesterday were obviously not happy seeing Isnaji and his son on television, being escorted by police in Manila where they were subjected to tactical interrogation.
"Isnaji is a well-respected mayor in Sulu and he's the common candidate of MNLF for governor in the upcoming ARMM elections. We could only suspect that there might be some sectors that are behind the character assassination against him," the MNLF secretary general said.
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